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The Rising Sun

The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-1945

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The Rising Sun

By: John Toland
Narrated by: Tom Weiner
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This Pulitzer Prize-winning history of World War II chronicles the dramatic rise and fall of the Japanese empire, from the invasion of Manchuria and China to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Told from the Japanese perspective, The Rising Sun is, in the author’s words, "a factual saga of people caught up in the flood of the most overwhelming war of mankind, told as it happened - muddled, ennobling, disgraceful, frustrating, full of paradox."

In weaving together the historical facts and human drama leading up to and culminating in the war in the Pacific, Toland crafts a riveting and unbiased narrative history.

©1970 John Toland (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc. 20th Century Asia Japan Military Modern World War China Imperial Japan Russia Imperialism Japanese Empire
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Put the speed on 1.1 for the best listening experience and let John Toland take you to Japan during WW2.

Great overview of the Japanese Empire and the war in the pacific overall

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outstanding audio book for a person like me who loves military history it's fantastic and it's fascinating to hear the Japanese perspective

the rising sun

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This book doesn’t lack for depth, and knowledge. At first I found the narrator a bit boring but I got into it eventually. It’s very American-Pacific-specific and I would’ve liked more information about the Chinese battles and especially the Burma campaign.

Needs more Burma

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A rare thing- details the motives, actions, mistakes of each side without entering into judgment or apologetics.
Also very well read.
A memorable, rewarding book.

Balanced, detailed and moving

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Great telling from the Japanese's POV. The political players were well described and can easily be pictured in my mind. I'm not convinced that the voice acting by the narrator was really necessary and some of it was off putting.

Fascinating overview of WWII

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